Self-recording manometer.



H. D. YATES.

SELF RECORDING MANOMETBR.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1. 9, 1011.

Patented June 9,1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

m m Q [N VEN TOR A llomey WITNESSES H. D. YATES.

SELF RECORDING MANOMBTBR.

urmouxon mum 001'. 9, 11111.

Patented June 9,1914L 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1N VEN TOR l-ULUMDIA PLANOGYIAPH cu. WASHIN c.

H. D. YATES.

SELF RECORDING MANOMETER.

APPLICATION nun 00129, 1011.

Patented Julie 9, 1914 s sums-sum 3.

WITNESSES 'H. D. YATES.

SELF RECORDING MANOMETBR.

ARPLIOATION FILED 00129, 1911.

1,099,416, Patented June 9,1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES 2 d9 INVENTOR Mm? 1 '1 1 Altomgp H. D. YATES. SELF RECORDING MANOME'I'BB.

APPLICATION nun 0012a, 1911.

1,099,411 6. Patented June 9, 1914 5 BHEETB-BHBET 5- /19 WITNESSES U N l'l'h l) ti'l'A'lTliifi HARRY D. YATES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SELF-RECORDING MANOMETER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY D. YA'rns a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashingto-n, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Recording Manometers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates primarily to instruments for measuring and recording the velocity of fluids or gases, more particularly water in mains, and its object, generally stated, is the provision of an apparatus of simple construction and operation which will possess superior sensitiveness and accuracy.

One object of my invention is to provide a self-recording manometer of extreme accuracy and sensitiveness, and especially to provide a simple, accurate form of instrument for use in connection with some form of device such as the Pitot tube, Venturi tube, and the like, for the n'ieasuren'ient of flow of liquids or gases.

The word manometer is used herein and lntended to refer to any apparatus for the measurement of pressure or differences of pressure or any form of measuring apparatus to which my improvements are applicable. In the form shown in the accompanying drawings they are embodied in an apparatus for indicating and recording the velocity of liquids or gases flowing under pressure, being there utilized in connection with a Iitot tube.

The. properties of the Pitot and Vcnturi tubes as velocity meters have probably been known for a century or more. In the character of machine or apparatus now in use for the measurement of liquids or gases flowing under pressure it is practically impossible to obtain an accurate record of low velocities, due to changes of temperature and to capillary attraction in the tubes, and since twice the velocity will result in four times the vertical displacement of the liquid in a U-shaped manometer, it will readily be seen that errors near the zero point are greatly magnified and for all practical purposes are impossible of correction.

The main object of my invention is to overcome such objectionable features of the devices heretofore utilized, and by my apparatus I have provided a means and mechanism whereby low velocities will be accu rately recorded.

The invention is illustrated in the accom Patented June 9, 1914.

Serial No. 653,621.

panying drawings and will be hereinafter fully described, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings; wherein similar letters of reference are used to indicate correspond ing parts in each of theseveral views Figure l is a plan view of one form of ap paratus embodying 1n invention; F ig. 2 is a front elevation of tie same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. l is an enlarged detail end. clevation of the gearing for driving the indicator and marker; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same mechanism; Fig. (3 is an enlarged detail view of the contacts between which the end of the counter beam plays; Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electrical circuits controlled by the counter beam; Fig. 8 is a diagram of the electrical circuits showing an adaptation of the invention for making a record at a distance. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail View of the driving mechanism utilized in connection with the making of a record at a distance; Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 11. is an enlarged transverse section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10 some of the parts being omitted for sake of clcarness; Fig. 12 is a detail section on the line 1212 of Fig. 10.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 two cylinders or cups 1, 2 are employed which have their lower ends in direct communication through a connecting pipe 3. Such arrangement of cups and connections forms a U-shaped manometer. Within the main -l.- are fitted terminals of a litot tube 5, or similar device, that branch of the tube having a bent terminal leading through pipe (3 into the top of the right-hand cup 2 and the other branch leading through pipe 7 into the top of the lcfthand cup 1. The cups 1, 2 contain a lluid of greater specific gravity (usually mercury) than the liquid being measured, which lluid, of course, fills the pipe 2 connecting the cups and the liquid flowing through the main -i will, in the well known manner, transmit pressure to the surfaces of the mercury. The cups are suspended on the ends of a balance beam 8 which is provided with knife edge studs or fulcrum pins t) adapted to rest on and rock upon the main supporting frame 10, as best shown in Fig. As long as the water in the main is at rest, the pressure in the two cups will be equal. and the balance beam will remain in ahorizontal position with the indicating and recording mechanism at zero. When the water is set in motion, the usual action of the Pitot tube occurs so that an excess of pressure is created in the cup 2 which drives a portion of the mercury therefrom and into the cup 1 and the greater weight thereby placed in the said cup 1 will cause it to drop and, consequently, rock the balance beam. The end of the balance beam above the cup 1 is connected by a link 11 with a counter beam 12 which is fulcrumed upon a block or post 13 on the supporting frame adjacent the connection of the beam with the link 11, the counter beam being arranged above the frame as clearly shown. Counterbalancing weights 14 and 15 are adjustably mounted on the beam 12 at opposite sides of its fulcrum, said weight 14 being adapted to counterbalance the beam, while the weight 15 is used to make minute adjustments of the poise when setting it at a fixed or predetermined position. The balance beam is also provided with an adjustable counterweight 8 for balancing the beam when setting up the machine for operation. The free end of the beam 12 extends through a guide post 16 on the frame 10 and plays between upper and lower electrical contacts 17 and 18 which are secured in a bracket '19 erected on and insulated from the main frame adjacent said guide post. These contacts form parts of electric circuits which are closed through the beam 12 when said beam touches either contact in the operation of the apparatus and the closing of the said circuits sets in motion mechanism by which the marker is caused to make a continuous record of all velocities occurring in the pipe or tube. The circuits, as shown in Fig. 7, are from the battery 20 to the beam 12 and through the beam to either contact. From the contact 17, the current passes through an electro-magnet 21 and thence to the battery while from the contact 18 the circuit is through an electromagnet 22 and thence to the battery. The electro-magnets 21, 22 are arranged in juxtaposition and have an armature 23 in common, said armature being disposed between the magnets, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the magnets being disposed between two frame plates or standards 24 and the armature being formed on the lower end of a stirrup or U-shaped hanger 25, which is pivoted upon the inner sides of the said frame plates or standards. J ournaled in the said frame plates is a driving shaft 26 equipped with a pulley 27 on its outer end whereby the shaft may be continuously rotated from any convenient prime motor. Upon the opposite end of the driving shaft 26 is secured a gear 28 which meshes with a gear 29 on a countershaft 30 which is also journaled'in the frame plates 24, the gears 28 and 29 being the same size, preferably, so that the countershaft will rotate at the same speed as the driving shaft, but in the opposite direction. Upon the shafts 26 and30 are friction pinions 31, 32 either of which may be engaged by a friction pulley 33 fixed on a shaft 34 journaled in the lower end of the hanger 25. A pinion 35 on the shaft 34 meshes with a gear 36 on a transmission shaft 37 which is also j ournaled in the frame plates 24 and has a pinion 38 on its end, said pinion meshing with a gear 39 fixed on the end of a worm shaft 40 which extends substantially the entire length of the main frame and actuates the marker. It will be readily understood that the armature vibrates between the two magnets 21, 22 as it is attracted first by one and then by the other and notches 41 are formed in the edges of the hanger 25 to clear the transmission shaft 37, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The worm shaft 40 is mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame, and is disposed above and in advance of the balance beam 8. The marker body 42 consists of a nut or traveler mounted on and engaging the worm shaft so that rotation of the shaft will cause the traveler to move along the same. An arm 43 depends from the traveler and has aforked lower end engaging the guide rod 44 fixed in the main frame below the worm shaft, the arm 43 conse quently serving as a stay to prevent unsteadiness in the movement of the traveler with the resultant inaccuracy and obscurity in the record, and also preventing rotation of the traveler. A pen or other form of marking finger 45 projects forward from the traveler to rest upon a drum 46 which is rotated at a constant speed by a clockwork or other convenient form of motor (not shown) and has a chart or record sheet secured around it. A link or connecting rod 47 extends rearward from the traveler and engages a poise'48 which is slidably mounted on a scale'beam 49 secured contrally upon the balance beam 8 and having graduations 50 on its front face. The link 47 does not rest on the poise but merely acts as a pro pelling means for moving the poise along the beam, the structure of the poise clearly permitting this action (see Fig. 2) as the end of the link 47 carries a small roller loosely mounted thereon, said end resting in a depressed or cut away portion of the poise.

WVhen the pressures in the two mercury cups are equal and the poise and marker at the Zero position, the end of the counter beam 12 will be between the contacts 17 and 18 without touching either of them. Should the water start to flow through the main, the balance of pressure in the two cups will be disturbed and the balance beam will be rocked, as before stated, the end of the counter beam being thrown against the upper contact 17 and the circuit being closed through the magnet 21 which is thereby energized and attracts the armature 23. The friction pulley 33 will thus be brought against the constantly rotating friction pinion 32 so that the shaft 34.- will be rotated and the rotation'of this shaft will be transmitted through the intermediate gearing to the worm shaft. The worm shaft will then cause the traveler to move toward the right in the drawings, and the position of the poise will indicate the velocity of flow upon the scale beam while the marker will make a permanent record of the velocity upon the chart or sheet on the drum 4L6. \Vhen the poise 48 reaches the graduation on the scale beam indicative of the velocity of flow, a balancing of the parts will be effected and the counter beam will be again brought to its position between the two contacts. If the velocity of flow should decrease, a flow of mercury to the right hand cup would be set up and the balance beam would be rocked to draw the counter beam against the lower contact thereby causing the magnet 22 to be energized, the armature 23 to be swung to the opposite side and the interi'nediate gearing actuated by the rotating pinion 31 to rotate the worm shaft in a direction the reverse of that previously given it so that the traveler will be moved toward the left until the poise reaches a position where the parts will balance.

The connections of the apparatus with the Pitot tube are made, as clearly shown in the drawings, at the fulcrum of the balance beam at which point stutllng boxes B and flexible tubing A are utilized.

Should it be desired, for any reason, to have the record made at a point distant from the parts actuated directly by the pressure, the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 8 and 5) may be advantageously employed. In this arrangement, the counter beam is in a primary circuit which operates to close a secondary circuit which, in turn, actuates the recorder and indicator. One pole of the primary battery or other generator 51 is connected electr'-ally with the counter beam corre sponding in all essential features to the counter beam 19.. An interrupter or trembler 53 is interposed in the connection between the generator and the beam and the end of the beam plays between contacts 54, 55, from which conductors lead to magnets 56, 57, respectively, said magnets being connected with the generator 51. The armatures 58, 59, of these magnets constitute relays which engage contacts ('30, (31 when attracted by their respective magnets and thereby close a. circuit from the secondary battery ()2 through the relay, thence to and through a magnet (53 or (34.- and thence back to the battery. The magnets 63, 64 act upon armatures (35, 66 respectively, carried by levers 67,68 suitably fulcrumed adjacent the magnets and connected by links (59, 70 with pa wls 71, 72. The pawls are disposed at opposite sides of a tooth or star wheel 73 and engage the same so as to impart an intermittent rotation thereto, it being obvious that the wheel will be rotated in one or the other direction accordingly as it engaged by either pawl. The star wheel 73 is fixed on a shaft 74 corresponding in all respects to the worm shaft a0 and actuating the indicating mechanism. A stop lever 75 is pivoted on the supporting frame adjacent the star wheel and extends above the wheel, being provided at its free end with a roller 76 adapted to engage between the uppermost teeth or points of the wheel and thereby hold it at rest during the inactive periods of the actuating elements. \Vhen the counter beam closes the primary circuit, one of the magnets 56 or 57 will be energized and will att not its armature. The interrupter 53, however, continuously makes and breaks the circuit so that the magnet will be alternately energized and deenergizcd and the relay armature consequently repeatedly attracted and released. When the said armature is attracted, it will close the circuit through the magnet (33 or (34 which will be energized and attract its armature thereby causing the lever (57 or (38 to swing dmvnward and consequently transmit movement to the pawl 71 or 72 which will actuate the wheel 73. \Vhen the circuit is broken the several parts will return to their initial positions ready to impart another impulse to the wheel.

It will be understood, of course, that when it is desired to obtain records at distant points, the mechanism at such points for operating the indicating mechanism is duplicated and the parts thereof operated synchronously with the various parts of the apparatus located at the main, the duplicate apparatus being connected up in series.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 is shown an adaptation of the invention in which the parts are arranged somewhat more compactly than the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this arrangement, 77 and 78 designate the branches of the litot tube leading to the mercury cups 7t) and 80 which are disposed at the opposite ends of a balance beam 81. The beam 81 is connected with a counter beam 82 which closes electric circuits in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1, and 3, whereby a train of gearing S3, driven from a motor S t, is made to actuate the worm shaft 85. The gearing S3 is identical with the gearing shown in Fig. 4, but instead of being arranged at the end of the balance beam, is located below the beam near the center thereof and the worm shaft is mounted on the beam itself, the power being i applied directly at the fulcrum of the beam and possible disturbance of the balance being thereby avoided. The traveler 86 is mounted directly on the worm shaft and engages a guide or stay rod 87 on the beam while the marker body 88 loosely engages the traveler so as to follow the movement of the same. The said body rests upon guiding and supporting rods 89 which are fixed above the balance beam, and supported on the frame independent of the beam, and the marking finger or pen 90 projects from the body 88 over the drum 91 which is driven by a clockwork motor and carries a record sheet or chart, the traveler itself in this instance being the poise member of the indicating mechanism.

The operation of the apparatus is thought to be sufiiciently disclosed in connection with the foregoing description of the construction and further reference thereto is deemed unnecessary. The position of the poise or weight on the beam indicates the velocity at the time of observation while a permanent record of the velocities" occurring during a measured period of time is made on the chart carried by the rotating drum.

It will be apparent that when there is an equal amount of mercury in both cups, changes in temperature affect both cups equally, and hence, have no effect on the zero position, and as a large mercury surface is provided, slight changes in the pressure will disturb the balance between the cups and, consequently, produce an accurate record of low velocities. Likewise by the use of large size mercury cups errors due to capil-- lary attraction become insignificant. The poise or weight maintains the equilibrium of the beam at all times, and, upon cessation of the flow, the several indicating parts are automatically returned to the zero position.

It will be apparent that by varying the weight of the poise or the size of the cups the movement of the poise can be multiplied at will thus permitting charts of any desired size to be made.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s:

1. In an apparatus of the character de' scribed, the combination with a U-shaped manometer containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured, a balance beam supporting said manometer whereby change in difference of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said beam, a counter beam connected to the balance beam in such manner as to multiply the movement of one end of the counter beam with relation to the movement of the ends of the balance beam, indicating mechanism including a poise slidable on the balance beam,

power driven mechanism for actuating said indicating" mechanism normally out of cooperative relation with the indicating mechanism, electric circuits arranged to be closed. by the counter beam, and means within said circuits arranged to bring the power driven mechanism into cooperative relation with the indicating mechanism when either of the circuits is closed and to thereby control the movement of the indicating mechanism throu h said power driven mechanism.

2. fn an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a U-shaped manometer containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured, a balance beam supporting said manometer whereby change in difference of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said beam, a counter beam connected to the balance beam in such manner as to multiply the movement of the counter beam with relation to the movement of the balance beam, indicating mechanism including a poise slidable on the balance beam, a recorder, a record receiving device, power driven mechanism for actuating the indicating mechanism and the recorder, said power driven mechanism normally out of cooperative relation with the indicating mechanism, electric circuits arranged to be closed by the counter beam, and means within said circuits arranged to bring the power driven mechanism into cooperative relation with the indicating mechanism when either of the circuits is closed and thereby actuate the indicating mechanism and the recorder through said power driven mechanism.

8. The combination of a balance beam, a J-shaped manometer supported thereby con taining a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in difference of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance beam, a scale'beam connected with the balance beam to be actuated thereby, a poise slidably mounted on the scale beam, a worm shaft, a traveler arranged on said worm shaft adjacent the balance beam and cooperating with the poise, a marker, a record receiving device, and means whereby the tilting of the balance beamwill cause said worm shaft to revolve and through it actuate the traveler and the poise and marker.

4. The combination with a U-shaped manometer containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of a balance beam supporting said manometer, means whereby a change in difference of-fluid pressures in the branches of the manometer will cause the beam to tilt,

a counterbeam connected to the balance beam in such manner as to multiply the movement of the counterbeam with relation to the movement of the balance beam, a traveler, a poise slidable on said balance beam and cooperating with said traveler, a support for the traveler, a marker carried by the traveler, a record receiving device, and means connecting the counter beam and the traveler support whereby the tilting of the counter beam will cause movement of the traveler and marker.

5. The combination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in difference of fluid pressures with in the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance beam, a worm shaft arranged adjacent the beam, a traveler on said shaft, a poise slidable on the beam and cooperating with the traveler, a marker, a record receiving device, a guiding rod par allel with the shaft and engaged by the traveler, and means connected to the worm shaft and controlled by the tilting of the beam to thereby cause the shaft to rotate in one or the other direction and effect movement of the traveler and marker.

6. The combination of a balance beam,

cups suspended on said beam, a pipe connectin'g and opening into the cups through the bottoms thereof, the cups and pipe containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, tubes leading through the sides of the beam immediately adjacent the fulcrum thereof to discharge into the tops of the cups the fluid whose flow is to be measured, whereby relative difference of fluid pressures in the cups will cause the beam to tilt, an indicating mechanism including a poise slidable on the balance beam, means controlling the movement of the indi -ating mechanism, and means connecting the balance beam and said, indicating mechanism for actuating the indicating mechanism, whereby the tilting of the beam will cause said last mentioned means to actuate the indicatingmechanism.

7. The combination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in difference of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance ,beam, a counter beam having one end connected with one end of the balance beam in such manne as to multiply the movement of the counterbeam with relation to the movement of the balance beam, a poise. slidable on the balance beam,

a traveler cooperating therewith, a support for the traveler, a recorder, a record receiving device, means for actuating said traveler, and means cooperating with the counterbeam for operating the traveler actuating means and through it said traveler and recorder in either direction.

8. The con'ibination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in dilt'erence ot' fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance beam, a counter beam connected to the balance beam, in such manner as to multiply the movement of the counter beam with relation to the n'iovement of the balance beam, at poise slidable on the balance beam, a traveler cooperating therewith, a support for the traveler, means'for actuating said traveler, and means cooperating with the counter beam for operating the traveleractuating means and through it said traveler in either direction.

9. The combination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in difference of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometerwill cause tilting of said balance beam, a counter beam connected to the balance beam in. such manner as to multiply the movement of the counter beam with relation to the movement of the balance beam, indicating mechanism in-- cluding a poise slidable on the balance beam, gearing for actuating the indicating mechanism, including a vibratory hanger carrying an element of the gearing, power driven mechanism, a pair of magnets, an armature on the hanger common to both magnets, and means whereby the movement of the counter beam will energize one or other of the mag: nets and thereby cause the power driven mechanism to actuate the indicating mech anism.

10. The combination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby containing aliqnid of greatcrdcnsity than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in ditl'erence of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance beam, a counter beam connected to the balance beam in such manner as to multiply the movement of the counter beam with relation to the movement of the balance beam, a poise slidable on the balance beam, mechanism for moving the poise, including a pair of magnets arranged to control the direction of movement of said mechanism and means whereby the move ment of the counter beam will energize one or the other of the magnets to cause movement of the poise.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in difference of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance beam, a counter beam having one end connected to one end of the balance beam, indicating mechanism including a poise slidable on the balance beam, a marker shaft, a gearing for rotating said shaft including a vibratory member, a pinion thereon, two shafts disposed re spectively at opposite sides of the said member, means for constantly rotating said shafts, and means for tilting said member whereby the pinion thereon may be driven by either shaft to cause movement of the marker shaft.

12. The combination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change on differences of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance beam, a counter beam connected to the balance beam in such manner as to' multiply the movement of the counter beam with relation to the movement of the balance beam, a poise slidable on said balance beam, means for actuating said poise and means cooperating with the counter beam for operating the poise actuating means and through it said poise.

13. The combination of a balance beam, a U-shaped manometer supported thereby, containing a liquid of greater density than the fluid whose flow is to be measured, of means connecting said manometer with the fluid whose flow is to be measured whereby change in difference of fluid pressures within the branches of said manometer will cause tilting of said balance beam, a counterbeam connected to the balance beam in such manner as to multiply the movement of the counterbeam with relation to the movement of the balance beam, a poise slidably mounted on the balance beam, means cooperating with the poise and adapted to move said poise along the balance beam upon the tilt ing of said balance beam and means cooperating with said counterbeam to control the poise moving means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. HARRY D. YATES.

Witnesses:

R. M. PARKINS, CHAS. E. RIORDAN.

Copies 01 thisipatent may be obtained for. five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

